The Irish Coast Guard has confirmed that two investigations will be carried out into the death of their first ever volunteer to be killed in the line of duty.

A body has been found by a lifeboat crew searching for the missing man off the Cork coast.

Three people are missing off the West Cork coast after their sailing vessel failed to return to shore last night.

Should a ferry ever be engulfed in flames off the Irish coastline with a threat to the lives of dozens of passengers and crew, those who may be involved in the emergency response have a flavour of what to expect following a major training exercise yesterday.

Met Eireann has weather alerts in place across the country.

Met Eireann has upgraded its weather warning to status orange today.

The Coast Guard has warned the public to stay away from exposed coastal areas this evening, with gust of up to 120km/h predicted.

People are being today urged to take some safety measures before getting into the water after five people drowned on Irish waterways this week.

With the country now more than a week into this bout of balmy weather, the HSE and the Department of Health have issued advice on how best to safely enjoy the soaring temperatures.

A 79-year-old man who suffered a suspected stroke on a cruise ship will be rushed to Cork University Hospital this morning for medical treatment once the boat docks in Cobh.

The Irish Coastguard is en route to rescue an elderly man who has taken ill on a cruise ship off the Southwest coast of Ireland.

A weather warning has been issued to road and sea users as gusts of up to 140km/hr are expected to batter the west of the country.

Munster and east Leinster are this morning bracing themselves for severe flooding as high winds and heavy rain buffet the country.

The public have been warned of very windy or stormy conditions for later this evening.

Navy and Garda dive teams are assessing conditions in Union Hall harbour in West Cork, ahead of making a dive on the wreck of the Tit Bonhomme.

The search resumes for five fishermen missing after their trawler sank yesterday.

Hopes were fading tonight for the safe return of five men missing after a trawler sank off the west Cork coast.

The biggest wave ever to hit Irish shores has been recorded, weather experts have revealed today.

A TRAGEDY on the scale of the 1979 Fastnet Race disaster was narrowly avoided last night after a yacht taking part in the famous race capsized 20km off Baltimore, Co Cork. (Click here to see a clip of the survivors talking about the rescue.)

Air and sea rescues soared by a fifth last year, with the Irish Coast Guard assisting more than 3,500 people.

THE skipper of the West Cork trawler which sank on Monday has spoken of his relief and gratitude following the dramatic rescue of all seven crew members.

GARDA divers will this morning decide if sea conditions are good enough to go into the water at the location where the sunken trawler the Honeydew II was positively identified yesterday.

The search for the missing people off the coast of Dunmore East has been called off until morning.

AT a deserted inlet at West Cork’s Owenahincha Beach yesterday afternoon, five-year-old Niamh Twomey laid a make-shift cross at the spot where the body of Jonathan Herlihy was found hours earlier.

A major search operation is underway in west Cork for two swimmers who have gone missing after getting into difficulty this afternoon.